But why pay thousands of dollars to prep using a typical Wall Street LBO modeling course?

With our hands-on, step-by-step training videos — at a fraction of the price — you can learn at your own pace, watch our LBO modeling examples as many times as you need, and develop a much stronger understanding of how to model private equity transactions.

Our training videos focus on tactical knowledge and skills to help you nail your LBO modeling test, making it the perfect solution for candidates who have no previous PE experience, or experienced candidates who need a PE modeling refresher.

Do you have a private equity, growth equity, or venture capital interview coming up soon and aren’t sure what to expect or how best to prepare for it?

Or are you planning to interview for buy-side investing jobs in the near future, but are confused about exactly how the recruiting process works and how to make yourself stand out in the interview process?

With our training videos, you’ll quickly master complex financial modeling and DCF analysis. We focus on critical knowledge and skills, making it the perfect solution for fast learners with no prior finance experience, or experienced candidates who simply need a financial modeling refresher.

Are you planning to interview for private equity jobs in the near future and are nervous or anxious about the LBO modeling test during the interview?

Private equity firms typically require candidates to take a financial modeling test as part of the interview process, where candidates are asked to build a working LBO model under time pressure, analyzing a company / potential investment opportunity.

The stakes are high, because compensation for private equity associate positions can be very lucrative — often ranging from $200,000 – $350,000 or more annually. That’s 4 – 7x the national household median income by the time you are 24 or 25 years old.

The good news is nailing the LBO modeling test is a highly trainable skill. Unfortunately, many Wall Street LBO modeling courses cost thousands of dollars for a couple days of classroom instruction.

But our Private Equity Training Videos provide the same hands-on, step-by-step training — at a fraction of the price — on how to build both complex and rapid-form LBO models that the live classes offer. Moreover, there’s no risk of “falling behind” in our course, because you can watch and learn at your own pace and review our examples as many times as you need to develop a strong understanding of how to model PE transactions.

Our LBO modeling course provides tactical knowledge and training on how to nail your LBO modeling test, making it the perfect solution for candidates who have no previous private equity experience, as well as candidates who are looking for a PE modeling refresher.

Our videos will show you how to:

Think intuitively about the mechanics of LBO finance

Model leveraged buyouts efficiently in Excel

Communicate your results effectively with a PowerPoint presentation

All of our training video packages grant you access to all the videos in that package for 1 full year.

Looking to break into investment banking? Anxiously preparing for corporate finance interviews? Want to jump start mastering financial modeling so you can hit the ground running in your new job?

The stakes are high, because salaries for entry-level analysts and associates in banking and finance are lucrative — often $110,000 – $230,000 or more annually when combining base and bonus. That’s 2 – 5x the national household median income coming straight out of college or grad school.

Succeeding in finance requires strong analytical skills in analyzing and valuing companies. This demands a strong understanding of the mechanics and business judgment involved in modeling financial statements and discounted cash flows.

We teach you how to build fully integrated financial and valuation models, just like the live classes. But there’s no risk of “falling behind,” because you can learn at your own pace and watch our examples as many times as you need to master financial modeling.

Our training videos focus on critical tactical knowledge and skills, making it the perfect solution for fast learners with no prior finance experience, or experienced candidates who need a financial modeling refresher.

We will teach you how to:

Build a fully integrated 3 statement financial model in Excel

Build a DCF analysis using both perpetuity growth and EBITDA multiple methods

Build detailed supporting schedules linking back to the 3 statements

Analyze a public company 10-K filing to efficiently extract data needed for your model

Let’s continue our conversation (from the last post) about the private equity LBO modeling test. The LBO modeling test is used by many, perhaps most, PE firms both large and small as part of the interview process to test 3 things:

Finance knowledge

Excel modeling skills

Executive presentation / communication skills

This is a short series that covers the “who” and “what” of the LBO modeling test, the specific components of the LBO modeling slide presentation, delivering the oral presentation to your interview committee, how to practice for the LBO modeling test, and how the modeling test is evaluated in the context of other recruiting considerations.

This post is about how to deliver the oral presentation of your investment thesis to the interview committee, how to practice for the LBO modeling test, and how the modeling test is evaluated in the context of other recruiting considerations. You can see other posts in this series here:

Let’s continue our conversation (from the last post) about the private equity LBO modeling test. The LBO modeling test is used by many, perhaps most, PE firms both large and small as part of the interview process to test 3 things:

Finance knowledge

Excel modeling skills

Executive presentation / communication skills

This is a short series that covers the “who” and “what” of the LBO modeling test, the specific components of the LBO modeling slide presentation, delivering the oral presentation to your interview committee, how to practice for the LBO modeling test, and how the modeling test is evaluated in the context of other recruiting considerations.

This post is about the key components of the LBO modeling test presentation. You can see other posts in this series here:

In the last post, I covered what you are expected to show when you present your findings to the interview committee. But what should you cover in each of the specific components of the LBO modeling slide presentation?

Let’s talk a bit about the private equity LBO modeling test. The LBO modeling test is used by many, perhaps most, PE firms both large and small as part of the interview process to test 3 things:

Finance knowledge

Excel modeling skills

Executive presentation / communication skills

This is a short series that covers the “who” and “what” of the LBO modeling test, the specific components of the LBO modeling slide presentation, delivering the oral presentation to your interview committee, how to practice for the LBO modeling test, and how the modeling test is evaluated in the context of other recruiting considerations.

This post is about the “who” and “what” of the LBO modeling test. You can see other posts in this series here:

This post is part of a short series that covers the who / when / where / how of landing a private equity job. This post is about the “how” of PE recruiting. You can find all the posts in this series here.

How Does the Recruiting Process for Private Equity Jobs Work?

This post is part of a short series that covers the who / when / where / how of landing a private equity job. This post is about the “where” of PE recruiting. You can find all the posts in this series here. Read more →

This post is part of a short series that covers the who / when / where / how of landing a private equity job. This post is about the “when” of PE recruiting. You can find all the posts in this series here. Read more →

This post is part of a short series that covers the who / when / where / how of landing a private equity job. This post is about the “who” of PE recruiting. You can find all the posts in this series here. Read more →

The Recruiting Process for Private Equity Jobs

Let’s talk a bit about the recruiting process for private equity jobs end-to-end.

Big mega-cap PE funds like Blackstone, Carlyle, and TPG have hiring needs that are pretty stable and predictable, and the recruiting pools for talent are well-known. Consequently, they have a fairly standardized process not unlike the recruiting process you would find in bulge-bracket investment banks or brand-name consulting firms — it’s just at an order of magnitude smaller scale.

By contrast, middle-market and smaller PE shops and specialty firms may have more extended processes or take longer to make decisions.

Part of that is because they are waiting to see who is left over after the mega-cap funds have had first pick of the litter (as they tend to enjoy given their prestige), and part of the reason is also because their hiring needs are less predictable and uniform year-to-year. One year they might hire 4 associates, another year 1, and another year none at all.

I’m going to spend the next few posts talking about the who / when / where / how of landing a private equity job.

How do private equity firms really make money? Management fees may shed light on why PE investors have such high salaries, no matter whether the PE firm has successfully exited an investment. But how is it that some private equity titans, like Henry Kravis of KKR and Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, can make a windfall half-billion dollars in a single year? Read more →

About

Andrew Chen received an associate offer, without any formal finance training, on his first attempt at applying for private equity investing positions in the competitive San Francisco Bay Area. He worked for Huntsman Gay, the Bain Capital spin-out led by the industrialist Jon Huntsman, former Bain Capital Chairman Bob Gay, former San Francisco 49ers Superbowl quarterback Steve Young, and former CFO of Citigroup and American Express Gary Crittenden. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+.